Yep, I said it: Your bad posture is the reason why you’re failing miserably and why you’ll never amount to anything in life. Did I get your attention? Good. *wink*
I realize that the title is a tad bit exaggerated but still – it should go without saying that there is a grain of truth in it. For one, bas posture is a symptom of things going on in your body and in your mind that may be indicative of suboptimal energy levels and limiting, defeating beliefs. And we all know that if you don’t have the energy and if you don’t have the belief, success will be an uphill battle.
Why bad posture happens
The most obvious reason why bad people have bad posture, medical and spinal conditions aside, is because they have a weak core. These people probably do not exercise enough or they are not exercising effectively, neglecting to work on their abdomen and back muscles.
The truth is, a nice set of legs, a firm backside, and some toned arms will mean nothing if you’re slouching. You’ll still look tired and drained of energy to others no matter how ‘hot’ your body looks.
A second reason for bad posture – and I’m guilty of this – is due to sitting in chairs in front of a computer or a TV all day. When you’re sitting in the same spot for hours at a time it is tempting to get comfortable and sink deeper into your seat without realizing that you’re not sitting up properly. Not to mention, most chairs out there simply aren’t supportive enough for hours upon hours at a time.
The problem with sitting in front of a screen all day is that your brain will get fried, your blood will stop flowing freely, and it’s ten times easier to get caught in a negative repeating thought pattern. Your brain isn’t being stimulated enough, and so you divert into old thinking habits.
Finally, being tense is another reason why your posture can suck. This one sounds counterintuitive to everything I just said but anxiety can and does coexist with slouching postures and fatigue. Anxiety of different forms can arise from negative thought patterns and the lack of energy from a sedentary lifestyle.
When you’re in your comfort zone, which is a very limited area for a lot of people, you’re “too” relaxed and it shows. But the minute you leave your comfort zone or even think about the prospect of doing so (which is easy to do when you’re wallowing in all sorts of nonsense thoughts), your body shifts into its anxious mode and your body tightens up – but not in a good way.
Making the connection between posture and success
If you noticed, all the reasons I listed above are interconnected somehow. If you don’t move, you’re not stimulated. If you’re not stimulated, you’ll fall back into old or defeating thought patterns. If you’re having negative thought patterns, you’ll fluctuate from being entirely zapped of energy or extremely anxious for long periods of time. And all of this will obviously manifest itself physically throughout your body. Namely, poor posture and a suboptimal metabolism.
Lots of people don’t like going to the gym or anything that “feels” like exercise (i.e. a chore). But it doesn’t have to be exercise in the modern sense. People were constantly exercising long before it was compartmentalized and labeled as ‘exercise.’ Our ancestors got by fine without being an obese society because they weren’t sitting around all day, grabbing whatever’s convenient. They were out hunting, tending their farms, walking miles a day/week because there were no cars, etc, etc. They had no choice if they wanted to eat and put a roof over their heads.
If people were to detach themselves from a screen and actually get moving a lot more, developing stronger muscle tones, getting the blood flowing, and maintaining weight would be less of an issue. And once you’re out and moving, it’s hard to break that inertia and let yourself wallow in your thoughts 24/7.
I’d venture to say that success isn’t a set of external factors (e.g. money, degrees, job) – rather, it is an attitude. Usually with the right attitude, the physical evidence will follow, but it still boils down to attitude. And it’s difficult to get that winning attitude when your physiology and posture are “dragging” you down with them, literally.
Building up your posture
This is an ongoing project for me, because as much as I sit in front of the computer, I need to keep coming up with activities and habits that will reinforce good posture and poise. Not to mention all the years of bad posture isn’t going away and staying away overnight.
The easiest thing to do is to get down and do sit ups and other resistance exercises. This is quick and easy as it can be done in less than ten minutes at any time of the day. I generally like to do a few sets of sit ups after a jog, or at least in the morning or before bed. I’m sure there are exercises you can do in front of a screen, such as making a conscious effort to sit up straight for 10 minutes, while tensing up your core muscles and holding everything in. Rinse and repeat a few times a day.
You can also get into yoga or pilates if you want to take it to another level. This does require a certain amount of flexibility as well, but this can be learned. You don’t have to take a bunch of expensive classes to learn it, especially if you’re just starting out. There are plenty of free videos online and cheap DVDs to be had and watched.
A fun thing I like to do is take dance classes a few times a week. It really doesn’t matter what kind of dance it is as long as you’re interested. All dances require you to carry your body in a certain way. Slumping is a big no-no. With practice, that kind of grace will become effortless. And it doesn’t matter if you “can’t dance.” I’m certainly not the greatest dancer in the world – but how can I expect to be when I never tried dancing that much in the past. Unless you’re entering into competitions (and even then), it’s all about having fun and releasing the worries, while unknowingly learning how to carry yourself. And it doesn’t just have to be golf. It can be something like golf, modeling classes, or even just doing cartwheels. Use your imagination!
Finally, if you know you’re going to be sitting in front of a screen for hours at a time, it may be beneficial to buy ergonomic office equipment. If you’re going to be sitting on a chair for 40 hours a week, doesn’t it make sense to ‘invest’ in a chair that will make you comfortable and help you sit up correctly. Wouldn’t an ergonomic keyboard help matters greatly? Suppose the crap really hits the fan and you can’t remember to sit up straight to save your life. Get yourself a posture brace and where until you get a hang of it. Yea, it looks like something your grandma would wear, but eh… desperate times call for desperate measures, right?
My final thought is no matter what you do, you still need to make it a point to step away from your routine a few times a day and get your blood pumping with fresh air. This is why people will tell you to go for short walks when sitting on long flights. It’s not just for cranky old people who cramp up all the time. After an energizing walk or activity, you’re more likely to stand/sit up straight, think better, and release any tension you may have.
Readers: Thoughts, suggestions? Comment!
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{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
Hi Val,
I also notice that when my posture is poor it affects my breathing as well, which is key for relaxing. And being in a relaxed state is the opposite of anxiety. So I would totally agree that it’s all interconnected. Again, great article my friend! You cease to amaze me!!
Jarrod@ Optimistic Journey´s last blog ..Take Life One Day At a Time
You didn’t say it explicitly here, but I think you’ve also implied that one’s “mental posture” is perhaps more important than their physical posture. If our body simply follows our mental cues, then we slouch, get lazy and lethargic, or transfixed on inanimate objects because we are not sufficiently stimulating our brains in enough ways.
But I think your suggestions here still address the mental problem. Our mind will usually follow where our body goes. So by getting active, it holistically stimulates us and eventually our mind will take the lead; a prospect I think necessary to sustain any level of consistency and vigor.
ForNot´s last blog ..Privacy and Deprivation
Oooh, bad posture – I can related to that after having back surgery. You’re dead on Val. A passive, bent over posture is a sure fire way to do not much of anything. Everyone I see who is well accomplished has an upbeat, stand tall, and happy posture.
Jeremy Johnson´s last blog ..Fear of Competition
Two little things made a world of diff for me:
1. Doing the pilates “suck in the abs as hard as you can” position while sitting in my chair (strengthening your core, strengthens your posture)
2. Adjusting my car mirrors to only work when I’m sitting properly. My chiropractor cousin taught me that. It’s a simple move, and a simple reminder, but very effective. If you look in your mirrors and the view is off, it’s time to sit up
J.D. Meier´s last blog ..Lessons Learned from Steve Pavlina
As an office worker, I can relate to this. I spend hours a day just sitting on a chair, and at some point recently I started to have back pains and had trouble keeping my back straight. Then… I hammered on myself at the gym. Did ab exercises, prone bridges, back exercises, etc…. and it’s improved a lot. I have to remember to keep doing the exercises in order to keep the strength up, and I also walk around a lot more and spend some time standing even at the office; our bodies were not meant to stay inactive for so many hours in the day!
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